Any homeschooling families here?

Genevieve · August 21, 2013, 02:13:13 PM

Do those of you who homeschool do special activities for feast days, etc? The Catholic mommy bloggers are always posting pictures from celebrations for St. Whoever feastday. It seems rather fake to me; or forced. Plus the cynic in me is skeptical that a cupcake for St. Whoever is going to make up for regular attendance at the NO.

I think homeschooling families are trying desperately to force a Catholic culture; e.g. with math books where you count angels or Rosaries. But does it work? Is it too much? Like I wrote above, it seems fake. Although I do it too. What choice do you have?

OCLittleFlower · August 21, 2013, 02:29:26 PM

I don't think a math book has to be specifically Catholic, and I doubt they were before the council, either, but someone older than me would have to confirm that. There are many flaws in the public school system, but I don't think having kids count kittens and using pizza to explain fractions should be counted among the flaws. There are plenty of things in every day, secular life that help kids learn math -- measuring cups and helping mom bake is a great way to help a kid "get" fractions.

Jayne · August 21, 2013, 03:48:48 PM

Quote from: Genevieve on August 21, 2013, 02:13:13 PM
Do those of you who homeschool do special activities for feast days, etc? The Catholic mommy bloggers are always posting pictures from celebrations for St. Whoever feastday. It seems rather fake to me; or forced. Plus the cynic in me is skeptical that a cupcake for St. Whoever is going to make up for regular attendance at the NO.

I think homeschooling families are trying desperately to force a Catholic culture; e.g. with math books where you count angels or Rosaries. But does it work? Is it too much? Like I wrote above, it seems fake. Although I do it too. What choice do you have?

I only did such special activities that were meaningful to me. It is natural to talk to one's children about the Saints that one has a particular devotion to and perhaps incorporate it into a craft or family celebration. So it did not seem fake to me at all.

OCLittleFlower · August 21, 2013, 04:31:27 PM

Quote from: RealJayneK on August 21, 2013, 03:48:48 PM
Quote from: Genevieve on August 21, 2013, 02:13:13 PM
Do those of you who homeschool do special activities for feast days, etc? The Catholic mommy bloggers are always posting pictures from celebrations for St. Whoever feastday. It seems rather fake to me; or forced. Plus the cynic in me is skeptical that a cupcake for St. Whoever is going to make up for regular attendance at the NO.

I think homeschooling families are trying desperately to force a Catholic culture; e.g. with math books where you count angels or Rosaries. But does it work? Is it too much? Like I wrote above, it seems fake. Although I do it too. What choice do you have?

I only did such special activities that were meaningful to me. It is natural to talk to one's children about the Saints that one has a particular devotion to and perhaps incorporate it into a craft or family celebration. So it did not seem fake to me at all.

I think this is solid advice. After all, just about every day is the feast of one or more saints. Personally, in our home, we celebrate major feasts of the Church (Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, Holy Days of Obligation, etc) and name days, as well as saints that have particular significance to us (devotion to St. Joseph, for example). I'd like to start doing something for our parish's patron feast day, as well.

voxxpopulisuxx · August 21, 2013, 05:33:51 PM

I think an inefficient disorganized , poorly conceived and executed homeschooling family is 1000% better than the most effective efficient public or secular school could ever be in the over all happiness and self image of the child...done in the name of the Love of Christ of course. We did a pretty crappy haphazard job in a surface and academic sense with our little ones homeschooling when they were young (but in our slight defense it wasn't as accepted and supported by the mainstream as it is now) and when they reached their teens we conceded and sent them to our local public school (which is actually a very very good public school system) but by then we had laid a foundation of solid reading (and a love of reading) and comprehension, and they are aware that the system is there to serve them not the other way around. Also they go with loving confidence I think is sorely lacking in public school raised kids generally (of course there are exceptions to this statement). My advice? Pray and just do your best...you cannot go wrong. I do recommend becoming a member of HSLDA to legally protect yourself from the beast education bureaucracy that is violently opposed to homeschoolers nationwide.
heres a link...I strongly urge every homeschooler to join.
http://www.hslda.org/

QuoteHome School Legal Defense Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.

Heinrich · August 21, 2013, 08:49:43 PM

I think I may join even though I have no kids being homeschooled at this time.

voxxpopulisuxx · August 21, 2013, 09:05:41 PM

Quote from: Heinrich on August 21, 2013, 08:49:43 PM
I think I may join even though I have no kids being homeschooled at this time.

All homeschoolers owe this group a great thanks.

Theophilus · August 21, 2013, 09:26:03 PM

Quote from: Genevieve on August 21, 2013, 11:36:20 AM
I'd heard that Our Lady of Victory does not allow for substitions? Is that correct? It seems a bit school in a box for my tastes.

They are Very school in a box. You can do the satellite program and get the lesson plans and then order whatever books/subjects you want to use and then you don't send in paperwork. I do this and use their religion. I planned to use their Math this year but I didn't care for it once I got it. I haven't fully enrolled my kids with them but reading through their papers I would guess they don't. As of right now I think when my kids are in high school I may enroll them.

Theophilus · August 21, 2013, 10:35:53 PM

Quote from: Genevieve on August 21, 2013, 02:13:13 PM
Do those of you who homeschool do special activities for feast days, etc? The Catholic mommy bloggers are always posting pictures from celebrations for St. Whoever feastday. It seems rather fake to me; or forced. Plus the cynic in me is skeptical that a cupcake for St. Whoever is going to make up for regular attendance at the NO.

I think homeschooling families are trying desperately to force a Catholic culture; e.g. with math books where you count angels or Rosaries. But does it work? Is it too much? Like I wrote above, it seems fake. Although I do it too. What choice do you have?

We have not been homeschooling long but we try to do things for some (big) feastdays. I have to recommend Raising Catholic Preschoolers. It has some really cute ideas we started such as making a Lenten calendar and everyday of Lent you and your kids pray for a different cause with a prayer for the weekday. It has ideas for Christmas. We host a "Saints Party" at our house with a few families instead of celebrating Halloween. We have a "May Crowning" at the beginning of May with all our Mary statues in and around the house. I try to mention St. Joseph on March 19th. As far as doing it for school, no. Our art books (Abeka/Protestant) have crafts for the Holidays.
I don't think you need to force it into Math, etc.

Genevieve · August 22, 2013, 12:17:59 PM

How much, on average, do you spend per year? Do you stick to a budget? I haven't even started yet and feel like I've spent a fortune. There are so many amazing resources out there that it's hard to keep myself from clicking to buy.

The choices are overwhelming. Before I started thinking about homeschooling I had no idea there were so many different, and conflicting, ideas about educating children. How can something that seems so simple, e.g. teaching children to read, be so complicated (Phonics versus whole language/different ways to teach letters, etc).

OCLittleFlower · August 22, 2013, 01:22:03 PM

For those of you who talk about buying something and deciding not to use it, are the retailers nice about accepting returns?

Genevieve · August 22, 2013, 02:22:33 PM

All of the retailers I've purchased from have good returns policy. There are also a many places online to buy used curricula and there are some free online curricula; e.g. http://materamabilis.org/ma/ (Catholic Charlotte Mason based curriculum) and http://www.amblesideonline.org/ (Charlotte Mason).

I think what really drives up the cost (and I'm totally guilty of this) is lurching around from one philosophy to the next in search of the "perfect curriculum."

Theophilus · August 22, 2013, 03:09:36 PM

Quote from: Genevieve on August 22, 2013, 12:17:59 PM
How much, on average, do you spend per year? Do you stick to a budget? I haven't even started yet and feel like I've spent a fortune. There are so many amazing resources out there that it's hard to keep myself from clicking to buy.

The choices are overwhelming. Before I started thinking about homeschooling I had no idea there were so many different, and conflicting, ideas about educating children. How can something that seems so simple, e.g. teaching children to read, be so complicated (Phonics versus whole language/different ways to teach letters, etc).

It is so hard for homeschool parents. We don't want to forget to teach something.
We don't spend much because the majority of our books I get from the library. We might have spent 200-300 dollars this year. That's including things like cardstock, glue, markers. I did buy a manipulatives set this year for fifty some dollars for Math, but it's supposed to cover up till fourth grade. I used Reading Rainbow.
The best advice I got was from a lady whose kids all finished college at the same time they did high school (using College Board) so when they were 18 they had a college degree. She said "go to the homeschool conference, but leave your checkbook at home" because there is so much to buy and everything seems great.
I am a person who saves newspaper and cardboard and old string because I know the kids will have fun cutting it or gluing it or painting on it.
Try to keep in mind that you can teach your kids to read the Bible and buy a Math curriculum and that would be enough; they would learn to read, know God, and know Math, once I accepted this, that I don't HAVE to teach EVERYTHING, I found it easier to just NOT buy something. (This is not how I homeschool my kids, but it is helpful to keep things in perspective.)
I just have to put in a good word for Phonics....With phonics a kid needs to memorize 44 different sounds, but with whole language they have to keep memorizing whole words, it's hard on their little brains. (I know, there are sight words that they have to memorize..."of" "the" etc...)

OCLittleFlower · August 22, 2013, 03:22:17 PM

I learned using whole language, so I favor that a bit because I know it, use it, understand it. The hubby learned via phonics and swears by it, though even as an adult, phonics makes no sense in my head. Is there such a thing as a combo approach? And don't phonics learners eventually sight read anyway?

Heinrich · August 22, 2013, 04:49:56 PM

Quote from: OCLittleFlower on August 22, 2013, 03:22:17 PM
I learned using whole language, so I favor that a bit because I know it, use it, understand it. The hubby learned via phonics and swears by it, though even as an adult, phonics makes no sense in my head. Is there such a thing as a combo approach? And don't phonics learners eventually sight read anyway?

If you love your children you will avoid whole language like porn.